Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 508: Hard Work as a Plagiarist (Added for the leader's weird color, calm down, boss)

Xin Qiji and Luo Huaiyan took a small boat from the pleasure boat. After they reached the shore, Luo Erlang said to Xin Qiji, "Fifth brother, the poem you just wrote is really good."

Xin Qiji smiled bitterly and shook his head: "How could I have written such a masterpiece? It was written by Liu Dalang."

Luo Huaiyan's eyes almost popped out: "Mr. Dalang? Mr. Dalang can also write poetry?"

"What are you talking about? Haven't you heard of 'Leave a loyal heart to shine in history and slay Yama with a hundred thousand banners'?" Xin Qiji glanced at the young man and said, "With these two poems as a foundation, if anyone says Liu Dalang is a poet in the future, I will deny it."

Luo Huaiyan gestured with his hands for a long time before finally uttering, "How dare I underestimate Da Langjun? It's just that Da Langjun only writes heroic and magnificent poems, including 'The Great River' and 'Singing Heroes'. I never thought that Da Langjun could also... write short poems."

Xin Qiji shook his head and laughed, "I never thought that in order to help me become famous, Liu Dalang gave me more than a dozen poems, all of which are classics handed down from generation to generation."

"I've always claimed to be a master of both civil and military skills, but only after meeting Liu Dalang did I understand what true mastery of both civil and military skills really meant."

If Liu Huai heard these words here, he would definitely find it difficult to hold back.

Because most of the poems he gave to Xin Qiji were written by Xin Qiji himself in the future, and a small part was dedicated by the future Mr. Lu You.

This is the Southern Song Dynasty that Su Shi was reborn into. Otherwise, Liu Huai could have opened Su Shi's eyes and let him see what it means that writing is natural and achieved by chance.

As for actually writing poetry, Liu Huai couldn't even play the game of flying flowers and drinking games, let alone know a damn thing about regulated verse.

Luo Huaiyan was intrigued by Xin Qiji's words and couldn't help but move forward. "Fifth brother, let's make a deal. Can you recite all the poems that Dalangjun gave you to me? I promise not to tell anyone."

Xin Qiji curled his lips and said, "I have already disobeyed military orders by telling you the truth. Dalang has repeatedly warned me not to tell anyone about it. Not to mention telling you these poems."

Luo Huaiyan had also read many books with his father, Luo Guzi, and was at least capable of appreciating poetry. Hearing this, he felt as if he were scratching his head. He wanted to ask more, but he didn't dare to disobey military orders. He could only sigh and say, "Fifth brother, why doesn't the eldest son let me make a name for myself? I can do it too. A young genius, gifted with talent, how pleasant it sounds!"

Xin Qiji sneered and said, "Do you think it's that simple? Since you wrote poems that will be passed down through the ages, you must be able to recite some ordinary poems at any time, right? You can't make mistakes in the rhythm, right? You also have to know some things like drinking and couplets.

This is just for fun. If a literary master asks about Taoist articles or the meaning of scriptures, even if I don’t say it is unique, I must at least have something to say.

If you can't do that, you'll soon become a fraud, just by writing a few good poems. It's like a ragged person wearing gold and pearl jewelry; how can you not arouse suspicion?

Like Luo Shenyan, Zhang Baiyu and others, they do have a certain level of cultural knowledge, but if you look deeper, it will definitely be exposed. Among the younger generation, only Xin Qiji has this ability.

Luo Huaiyan nodded repeatedly, and finally said with regret: "If I had known that if I didn't study the classics seriously, I wouldn't even have the chance to become famous. I would have hidden myself in my father's study and never come out."

Xin Qiji shook his head: "Luo Erlang, do you think I'm willing? I feel guilty for doing such a deceitful thing. My desire to give up wasn't just pretense, but out of sheer shame."

As he spoke, Xin Qiji thought about the poems Liu Huai had taught him, and his face turned red again.

Luo Huaiyan could only console him: "Of course, the eldest brother has his own plans. After so many battles, don't you think Fifth Brother still trusts the eldest brother? As the eldest brother said, we are still fighting now, just without the bloodshed. Everyone still needs to do their job."

Xin Qiji looked up at the bright moon and murmured, "If it weren't for this, how could I have done such a thing with peace of mind?"

Xin Qiji naturally had his own pride. Whether in literature or martial arts, even if he was not as good as others, how could he do something to make a name for himself by using others?
Under the same full moon, Zhang Baiyu stood at the bow, also pondering his own pride.

Speaking of which, this young hero who has learned literature and martial arts since childhood, since he was sensible and participated in family affairs, he realized that his father was a great hero, and those uncles were also heroes. Growing up and living among these people, he, Zhang Baiyu, can naturally become a hero.

This is the source of Zhang Baiyu's pride and the source of his strength.

Then one day after a great riot, his father Zhang Rong sent him to serve as a personal guard to a man of his age.

Zhang Baiyu didn't understand at first.

But watching this peer lead the army and government, always victorious in battle, gathering heroes and unifying the empire, becoming a formidable hero, Zhang Baiyu felt increasingly insignificant. His initial arrogance gradually gave way to humility, seemingly going from one extreme to the other. Even after Zhang Rong's death in battle, Zhang Baiyu still relied on Liu Huai to accomplish great things, rather than taking the initiative himself.

However, yesterday, when Liu Huai gave Zhang Baiyu the order to forcibly take over the Dongping Army and gave him 300 Flying Tiger Armored Cavalry to escort him, Zhang Baiyu finally understood.

He has to stand on his own.

This naturally made Zhang Baiyu a little panicked and confused, but military orders were as heavy as a mountain, and he had to bite the bullet and set off even if it was difficult to deal with.

However, right here on the Yangtze River, right under this bright moon, Zhang Baiyu weighed the merits he had made. Although he had only followed Liu Huai, he had fought in those bloody battles and would rather die than retreat. How could he not be considered a hero?
How can I not be independent?
Thinking of this, Zhang Baiyu looked back at Zhang Yang's white fish flag in the moonlight, reached out to touch the flagpole, and then saw the calluses on his fingertips.

This is left by pulling the bow again and again.

It's only been a few months, how could the callus become so thick?
"Silang, we're here!" Xiao En walked to the bow of the boat, raised the torch and waved it a few times towards the north shore.

A moment later, torches also flickered on the north bank.

Zhang Baiyu tightened his belt and took a deep breath: "Let's go, Uncle Qi, let's go and take the Dongping Army home."

Xiao En looked at Zhang Baiyu's back, his nose felt sore and he almost shed tears.

After getting ashore, Dian Lun nodded to Zhang Baiyu, then quickly mounted his horse and left.

Chen Wenben stepped out from the shadows, cupped his hands, and said, "Commander Zhang."

Zhang Baiyu took out the military order from Liu Huai and handed it to the other party: "This is the military order. I brought back some meat. Get up early tomorrow and have a good meal. Then follow me to Dongping Army."

Chen Wenben read the order by torchlight and said with a smile, "Commander Zhang, please don't be so reserved. Since there are serious orders, the Flying Tigers will not slack off."

Zhang Baiyu was a cavalry general, so he often led the Flying Tiger Army to break the enemy's formation and was familiar with the generals of the Flying Tiger Army.

"One thing at a time." Zhang Baiyu waved his hand. "After all, this time we're going to seize the Dongping Army, so it's half my family business. Besides, the army won't have much time to rest, so there might be another conflict. No matter what, I have to make an agreement with the brothers and give them an explanation."

Chen Wenben put away the documents and said with a gaping mouth, "Commander Zhang, I say the same thing again. As long as it is an order from the commander-in-chief, whether it is public or private, the Flying Tigers will not turn back."

Zhang Baiyu nodded without commenting.

Chen Wenben, however, talked about something else: "General Zhang, there is something that I haven't had time to report to the Commander-in-Chief yet."

"Let's talk about it."

"It seems someone is spying on our army. News has come from Haozhou and Chao County. Even our Flying Tiger Army was spied on when we arrived near Guazhou Ferry."

"Did you catch him?"

"We caught a few, but didn't find the owner. We didn't know whether to use severe punishment. When an elderly village official came to ask for the owner, we released them all."

The Jingnan Army was fair in its rewards and punishments, and at the same time, its military discipline was very strict. There was a complete system of military judges in the army. For serious cases like abusing civilians, not only would the offender be beheaded, but the land granted to them would also be reclaimed.

Zhang Baiyu rubbed his chin. "Send a military envoy and tell them that the commanders will be returning soon. Tell them not to release the hostages. Someone will naturally take care of this matter when the time comes."

Chen Wenben clearly smelled a hint of anxiety and asked in a low voice, "Commander Zhang, is something serious going to happen?"

Zhang Baiyu smiled and patted Chen Wenben on the shoulder: "No...it's because we are going to do something big."

(End of this chapter)